Application

Part

COBS Conduct of Business Sourcebook

Chapter

Application

Printed on: 15/10/2024

Rulebook at: 14/12/2007

COBS 1

Application

COBS 1.1

The general application rule

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COBS 1.1.1

This sourcebook applies to a firm with respect to the following activities carried on from an establishment maintained by it, or its appointed representative, in the United Kingdom:

(1) accepting deposits;
(2) designated investment business;
(3) long-term insurance business in relation to life policies;

and activities connected with them.

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Modifications to the general application rule

COBS 1.1.2

The general application rule is modified in COBS 1 Annex 1 according to the activities of a firm (Part 1) and its location (Part 2).

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COBS 1.1.3

The general rule is also modified in the chapters to this sourcebook for particular purposes, including those relating to the type of firm, its activities or location, and for purposes relating to connected activities.

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Guidance

COBS 1.1.4

Guidance on the application provisions is in COBS 1 Annex 1 (Part 3).

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COBS 1 Annex 1

Application (see COBS 1.1.2R)

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Part 1: What?
Modifications to the general application rule according to activities

Eligible counterparty business

1.1

The COBS provisions shown below do not apply to eligible counterparty business.

COBS provision

Description

COBS 2 (other than COBS 2.4)

Conduct of business obligations

COBS 4 (other than COBS 4.4.1 R and COBS 4.4.2 G)

Communicating with clients including financial promotions

COBS 6.1

Information about the firm, its services and remuneration

COBS 8

Client agreements

COBS 10

Appropriateness (for non-advised services)

COBS 11.2, COBS 11.3 and COBS 11.6

Best execution, client order handling and use of dealing commission

COBS 12.3.1 R to COBS 12.3.3 R

Labelling of non-independent research

COBS 14.3

Information about designated investments

COBS 16

Reporting information to clients

[Note: article 24(1) of MiFID]

Transactions between an MTF operator and its users

2.1

The COBS provisions in paragraph 1.1R and COBS 11.4 (Client limit orders) do not apply to a transaction between an operator of an MTF and a member or participant in relation to the use of the MTF.

[Note: article 14(3) of MiFID]

Transactions concluded on an MTF

3.1

The COBS provisions in paragraph 1.1R and COBS 11.4 (client limit orders) do not apply to transactions concluded under the rules governing an MTF between members or participants of the MTF. However, the member or participant must comply with those provisions in respect of its clients if, acting on its clients behalf, it is executing their orders on an MTF.

[Note: article 14(3) of MiFID]

Transactions concluded on a regulated market

4.1

In relation to transactions concluded on a regulated market, members and participants of the regulated market are not required to apply to each other the COBS provisions in paragraph 1.1R and COBS 11.4 (client limit orders). However, the member or participant must comply with those provisions in respect of its clients if, acting on its clients behalf, it is executing their orders on a regulated market.

[Note: article 42(4) of MiFID]

Consumer credit products

5.1

If a firm, in relation to its MiFID business, offers an investment service as part of a financial product that is subject to other provisions of European Community legislation or common European standards related to credit institutions and consumer credits with respect to risk assessments of clients and/or information requirements, that service is not subject to the rules in this sourcebook that implement Article 19 of MiFID.

[Note: article 19(9) of MiFID]

5.2

This exclusion for consumer credit products is intended to apply on a narrow basis in relation to cases in which the investment service is a part of another financial product. It does not apply where the investment service is the essential or leading part of the financial product. It also does not apply where the service provided is a combination of an investment service and an ancillary service (for example, granting a credit for the execution of an order where the credit is instrumental to the buying or the selling of a financial instrument.) The exclusion also does not apply in relation to the sale of a financial instrument for the purpose of enabling a client to invest money to repay his obligations under a loan, mortgage or home reversion.

Use of third party processors in life insurance mediation activities

6.1

If a firm (or its appointed representative or, where applicable, its tied agent) outsources insurance mediation activities to a third party processor:

(1)

the firm must accept responsibility for the acts and omissions of that third party processor conducting those outsourced activities; and

(2)

any COBS rule requiring the third party processor's identity to be disclosed to clients must be applied as a requirement to disclose the firm's identity;

unless the third party processor is advising on investments.

Part 2: Where?
Modifications to the general application rule according to location

EEA territorial scope rule: compatibility with European law

1.1

(1)

The territorial scope of this sourcebook is modified to the extent necessary to be compatible with European law (see Part 3 for guidance on this).

(2)

This rule overrides every other rule in this sourcebook.

1.2

In addition to the EEA territorial scope rule, the effect of the Electronic Commerce Directive on territorial scope is applied in the fields covered by the 'derogations' in the Annex to that Directive other than the 'insurance derogation' in the fourth indent (see paragraph 7.3 of Part 3 for guidance on this).

[Note: article 3(3) of, and Annex to, the Electronic Commerce Directive]

Business with UK clients from overseas establishments

2.1

(1)

This sourcebook applies to a firm which carries on business with a client in the United Kingdom from an establishment overseas.

(2)

But the sourcebook does not apply to those activities if the office from which the activity is carried on were a separate person and the activity:

(a)

would fall within the overseas persons exclusions in article 72 of the Regulated Activities Order; or

(b)

would not be regarded as carried on in the United Kingdom.

2.2

One of the effects of the EEA territorial scope rule is to override the application of this sourcebook to the overseas establishments of EEA firms in a number of cases, including circumstances covered by MiFID, the Distance Marketing Directive or the Electronic Commerce Directive. See Part 3 for guidance on this.

Part 3: Guidance

The main extensions and restrictions to the general application rule

1.1

The general application rule is modified in Parts 1 and 2 of Annex 1 and in certain chapters of the Handbook. The modification may be an extension of this rule. For example, COBS 4 (Communications to clients) and COBS 5 (Financial promotion) have extended the application of the rule.

1.2

The provisions of the Single Market Directives and other directives also extensively modify the general application rule, particularly in relation to territorial scope. However, for the majority of circumstances, the general application rule is likely to apply.

The Single Market Directives and other directives

2.1

This guidance provides a general overview only and is not comprehensive.

2.2

When considering the impact of a directive on the territorial application of a rule, a firm will first need to consider whether the relevant situation involves a non-UK element. The EEA territorial scope rule is unlikely to apply if a UK firm is doing business in a UK establishment for a client located in the United Kingdom in relation to a United Kingdom product. However, if there is a non-UK element, the firm should consider whether:

(1)

it is subject to the directive (in general, directives only apply to UK firms and EEA firms, but the implementing provisions may not treat non-EEA firms more favourably than EEA firms);

(2)

the business it is performing is subject to the directive; and

(3)

the particular rule is within the scope of the directive.

If the answer to all three questions is 'yes', the EEA territorial scope rule may change the effect of the general application rule.

2.3

When considering a particular situation, a firm should also consider whether two or more directives apply.

MiFID: effect on territorial scope

3.1

PERG 13 contains general guidance on the persons and businesses to which MiFID applies.

3.2

This guidance concerns the rules within the scope of MiFID including those rules which are in the same subject area as the implementing rules. A rule is within the scope of MiFID if it is followed by a 'Note:' indicating the article of MiFID or the MiFID implementing Directive which it implements.

3.3

For a UK MiFID investment firm, rules in this sourcebook that are within the scope of MiFID generally apply to its MiFID business carried on from an establishment in the United Kingdom. They also generally apply to its MiFID business carried on from an establishment in another EEA State, but only where that business is not carried on within the territory of that State. (See articles 31(1) and 32(1) and (7) of MiFID)

3.4

For an EEA MiFID investment firm, rules in this sourcebook that are within the scope of MiFID generally apply only to its MiFID business if that business is carried on from an establishment in, and within the territory of, the United Kingdom. (See article 32(1) and (7) of MiFID)

3.5

However, the rules on investment research and non-independent research (COBS 12.2 and 12.3) and the rules on personal transactions (COBS 11.7) apply on a "home state" basis. This means that they apply to the establishments of a UK MiFID investment firm in the United Kingdom and another EEA State and do not apply to an EEA MiFID investment firm.

Insurance Mediation Directive: effect on territorial scope

4.1

The Insurance Mediation Directive's scope covers most firms carrying on most types of insurance mediation. The rules in this sourcebook within the Directive's scope are those relating to life policies that require the provision of pre-contract information or the provision of advice on the basis of a fair analysis. The rules implementing the minimum information and other requirements in articles 12 and 13 of the Directive are set out in COBS 7 (Insurance mediation) and COBS 9 (Suitability (including basic advice)).

4.2

In the FSA's view, the responsibility for these minimum requirements rests with the Home State, but a Host State is entitled to impose additional requirements within the Directive's scope in the 'general good'. Accordingly, the general rules on territorial scope are modified so that:

(1)

for a UK firm providing passported activities through a branch in another EEA State under the Directive, the rules implementing the Directive's minimum requirements apply but the territorial scope of the additional rules within the Directive's scope is not modified;

(2)

for an EEA firm providing passported activities under the Directive in the United Kingdom, the rules implementing the Directive's minimum requirements do not apply, but the additional rules within the Directive's scope have their unmodified territorial scope unless the Home State imposes measures of like effect. (See recital 19 and article 12(5) of the Insurance Mediation Directive)

Consolidated Life Directive: effect on territorial scope

5.1

The Consolidated Life Directive's scope covers long-term insurers authorised under that Directive conducting long-term insurance business. The rules in this sourcebook within the Directive's scope are the cancellation rules (COBS 15) and those rules requiring the provision of pre-contract information or information during the term of the contract concerning the insurer or the insurance contract. The Directive specifies minimum information and cancellation requirements and permits EEA States to adopt additional information requirements that are necessary for a proper understanding by the policyholder of the essential elements of the commitment.

5.2

If the State of the commitment is an EEA State, the Directive provides that the applicable information rules and cancellation rules shall be determined by that state. Accordingly, if the State of the commitment is the United Kingdom, the relevant rules in this sourcebook apply. Those rules do not apply if the State of the commitment is another EEA State. The territorial scope of other rules, in particular the financial promotion rules, is not affected since the Directive explicitly permits EEA States to apply rules, including advertising rules, in the 'general good'. (See articles 33, 35, 36 and 47 of the Consolidated Life Directive)

Distance Marketing Directive: effect on territorial scope

6.1

In broad terms, a firm is within the Distance Marketing Directive's scope when conducting an activity relating to a distance contract with a consumer. The rules in this sourcebook within the Directive's scope are those requiring the provision of pre-contract information, the cancellation rules (COBS 15) and the other specific rules implementing the Directive contained in COBS 5 (Distance communications).

6.2

In the FSA's view, the Directive places responsibility for requirements within the Directive's scope on the Home State except in relation to business conducted through a branch, in which case the responsibility rests with the EEA State in which the branch is located (this is sometimes referred to as a 'country of origin' or 'country of establishment' basis). (See article 16 of the Distance Marketing Directive)

6.3

This means that relevant rules in this sourcebook will, in general, apply to a firm conducting business within the Directive's scope from an establishment in the United Kingdom (whether the firm is a national of the UK or of any other EEA or non-EEA state).

6.4

Conversely, the territorial scope of the relevant rules in this sourcebook is modified as necessary so that they do not apply to a firm conducting business within the Directive's scope from an establishment in another EEA state if the firm is a national of the United Kingdom or of any other EEA state.

6.5

In the FSA's view:

(1)

the 'country of origin' basis of the Directive is in line with that of the Electronic Commerce Directive; (See recital 6 of the Distance Marketing Directive)

(2)

for business within the scope of both the Distance Marketing Directive and the Consolidated Life Directive, the territorial application of the Distance Marketing Directive takes precedence; in other words, the rules requiring pre-contract information and cancellation rules (COBS 15) derived from the Consolidated Life Directive apply on a 'country of origin' basis rather than being based on the state of the commitment; (See articles 4(1) and 16 of the Distance Marketing Directive noting that the Distance Marketing Directive was adopted after the Consolidated Life Directive)

(3)

for business within the scope of both the Distance Marketing Directive and the Insurance Mediation Directive, the minimum information and other requirements in the Insurance Mediation Directive continue to be those applied by the 'Home State', but the minimum requirements in the Distance Marketing Directive and any additional pre-contract information requirements are applied on a 'country of origin' basis. (The basis for this is that the Insurance Mediation Directive was adopted after the Distance Marketing Directive and is not expressed to be subject to it.)

Electronic Commerce Directive: effect on territorial scope

7.1

The Electronic Commerce Directive's scope covers every firm carrying on an electronic commerce activity. Every rule in this sourcebook is within the Directive's scope.

7.2

A key element of the Directive is the ability of a person from one EEA state to carry on an electronic commerce activity freely into another EEA state. Accordingly, the territorial application of the rules in this sourcebook is modified so that they apply at least to a firm carrying on an electronic commerce activity from an establishment in the United Kingdom with or for a person in the United Kingdom or another EEA state. Conversely, a firm that is a national of the UK or another EEA State, carrying on an electronic commerce activity from an establishment in another EEA State with or for a person in the United Kingdom need not comply with the rules in this sourcebook. (See article 3(1) and (2) of the Electronic Commerce Directive)

7.3

The effect of the Directive on this sourcebook is subject to the 'insurance derogation', which is the only 'derogation' in the Directive that the FSA has adopted for this sourcebook. The derogation applies to an insurer that is authorised under and carrying on an electronic commerce activity within the scope of the Consolidated Life Directive and permits EEA States to continue to apply their advertising rules in the 'general good'. Where the derogation applies, the financial promotion rules continue to apply for incoming electronic commerce activities (unless the firm's 'country of origin' applies rules of like effect) but do not apply for outgoing electronic commerce activities. (See article 3(3) and Annex, fourth indent of the Electronic Commerce Directive; Annex to European Commission Discussion Paper MARKT/2541/03)

7.4

In the FSA's view, the Directive's effect on the territorial scope of this sourcebook (including the use of the 'insurance derogation'):

(1)

is in line with the Distance Marketing Directive; and

(2)

overrides that of any other Directive discussed in this Annex to the extent that it is incompatible.

7.5

The 'derogations' in the Directive may enable other EEA States to adopt a different approach to the United Kingdom in certain fields. (See recital 19 of the Insurance Mediation Directive, recital 6 of the Distance Marketing Directive, article 3 and Annex of the Electronic Commerce Directive)

Investor Compensation Directive

8.1

(1)

The Investor Compensation Directive generally requires MiFID investment firms to belong to a compensation scheme established in accordance with the Directive. The rules in this sourcebook that implement the Directive are those (i) requiring MiFID investment firms, including their branches, to make available specified information about the compensation scheme to which they belong and specifying the language in which such information must be provided (COBS 6.1.14 R) and (ii) restricting mention of the compensation scheme in advertising to factual references (COBS 4.2.5 G).

(2)

In the FSA's view, these matters are a Home State responsibility although a Host State may continue to apply its own rules in the 'general good'. Accordingly, these rules apply to the establishments of a UK MiFID investment firm in the United Kingdom and another EEA State but also apply in accordance with their standard territorial scope to an EEA MiFID investment firm providing services in the UK unless its Home State applies rules of like effect.

UCITS Directive: effect on territorial scope

9.1

The UCITS Directive covers undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) meeting the requirements of the Directive, and their management companies and depositaries. The rules in this sourcebook within the Directive's scope are those in COBS 14 (Providing product information to clients) relating to the distribution of a simplified prospectus by the management company. Those rules are the responsibility of the Home State of the UCITS. The Directive explicitly permits other EEA States in which a UCITS is marketed to continue to apply rules, including marketing and advertising rules, outside the field governed by the Directive. The Directive also applies certain rules derived from MiFID to management companies in relation to certain business activities. (See articles 1(6) and 44 of the UCITS Directive)

9.2

Accordingly, the territorial scope of this sourcebook is modified so that:

(1)

the rules relating to the distribution of a simplified prospectus apply to the management company (operator) of a UCITS whose Home State is the United Kingdom when marketing in other EEA States;

(2)

those rules do not apply to a management company of a UCITS whose Home State is another EEA State when marketing in the United Kingdom; other rules, such as the financial promotion rules and the information gathering and suitability rules (see COBS 9 Suitability (including basic advice)) apply without modification of this territorial scope.

9.3

The Directive does not affect the territorial scope of rules as they apply to an intermediary selling a UCITS.

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